The Best Summer Skincare Hacks You Need to Try to Fix Skin Concerns
As the months change to hotter temperatures, our skin needs will change as well. Summer skincare hacks can be a lifesaver. They can be a great way to treat and prevent common concerns that arise with hotter weather.
Keep reading to find out why your skin changes in the summer, how hot weather affects the skin, and simple skincare hacks that can treat and prevent most problems today!
Why Does Your Skincare Change in the Summer
As climate and weather change, so does your skin. In hotter months, UV rays are harsher and more direct, with longer and brighter days. This means your skin will need more protection for longer. Plus, a hotter temperature means increased water loss from the surface of the skin. This can cause irritation, dehydration, and dryness.
Summer may also cause increased oil, sweat, and skin cell production. All of this makes breakouts more common, dryness more prevalent, and irritation more likely. Skincare should change to tailor to these conditions.
The Top 6 Summer Skincare Hacks
Here are 6 summer skincare hacks that can help you keep your skin healthy and glowing. The summer heat can cause many problems, all of which can be prevented or treated, if you know how!
1. Use Antioxidants Ingredients
Adding antioxidant ingredients to your skincare routine is a great way to help boost your skin health in the summer. Antioxidants work by repairing and protecting the skin from free radical damage. They can even help boost the protective nature of sunscreen. Use vitamin C, niacinamide, ferulic acid, resveratrol, or vitamin E before applying sunscreen to help support the skin.
2. Switch to Gel Moisturizer
Gel moisturizers tend to be more lightweight and easy to apply, which can provide much-needed hydration and moisturization while preventing breakouts. Plus, if you have a really moisturizing sunscreen, you might even get away with skipping moisturizer every now and then, at least in hotter months.
3. Apply Cream Sunscreen at Least Once
Sunscreen cream is better than sprays or sunscreen skins at applying a uniform long-lasting coverage. In fact, some sunscreen sticks have been found to apply less sunscreen SPF than promised. Apply cream for the most coverage and protection. You can even use a tinted sunscreen stick without a white cast. Tinted sunscreen sticks have the added benefit of being rich in iron oxides, the component that produces the tint. Iron oxides have been found to reduce and prevent dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
4. Sunscreen Sticks and Chapsticks
While it is easy to apply sunscreen cream in the morning, many of us aren’t going to whip out the tube and reapply throughout the day. To fix this, try out sunscreen sticks. While not the most protective, they make reapplying very easy, and some SPF is better than no SPF. Don’t forget the lips too! Use chapsticks with sunscreen for protection on the lips, which have very thin skin.
5. Skip the Foundation Sunscreens
Sunscreen in a foundation is next to useless. SPF in makeup is probably less than half of what is promised on the box. The amount of foundation you would have to put on your skin for the needed SPF means your pores are clogged, your face is caked, and you still aren’t completely protected. Skip SPF in a foundation and opt for a cream instead.
6. Supplement for Skin Health
You can take antioxidants and other supplements like coenzyme 10, fish oil, or collagen to help support skin health from within. By providing your body with the necessary tools, you can help it repair any UV damage, restore the skin barrier, and protect itself. Eat nutritious foods rich in antioxidants like fruits and vegetables too to protect against free radicals!
Bonus tip: Wear Protective SPF Clothing
Clothing is the cheapest and most effective way of protecting yourself from the sun. It is a one-time purpose, its effects, and it is easy. Use UPF-rated clothing which provides actual sun protection. This can help you save money on sunscreen, you don’t have to worry about reapplying, and you can use it again and again. Wearing it, particularly when at the beach, can also help you as the clothing, unlike most sunscreen, is waterproof most of the time.
Quick Ways to Boost Skin Health
Here are some super simple tips to boost skin health in the summer and all year round!
- Stay hydrated – hydration of the skin comes from within, so make sure you are drinking water when you’re thirsty.
- Consume nutritious food – the foods you eat become the building blocks for health. It’s what the body uses to repair and grow
- Sleep – during sleep, the body undergoes necessary repairs. Sleep enough to help support skin health and restoration.
- Use a humidifier at home – a humidifier can help your skin when you are indoors as it rehydrates the skin barrier.
- Get sunlight safely – it’ll be easier to take in sun for vitamin D in the summer, but it has to be safe! Try to absorb some sunlight early in the morning before the UV radiation is too intense and only get about 5 minutes three times a week. Remember, infrared rays, which are beneficial to the skin, can go through clothing and hats, so you are still benefiting while being outdoors protected.
The Takeaway
Summer heat can cause a lot of skin concerns from dryness, irritation, and oiliness. Knowing how to treat and prevent this can be a game-changer for skin care. Use antioxidants in skincare to boost skin protection and health. Try out sunscreens, and use different forms like sticks and creams. Plus, supplements rich in antioxidants and nutrients, like collagen or vitamin E, have properties that can protect the skin greatly. If anything, wear protective clothing to physically protect you from the sun.
Remember health comes from within, so eat nutrient-dense food, exercise daily, and take care of your mental health. Use good habits daily so that they become the building blocks for health, emotional, mental, and physical. Take care of your gut health too for even more health benefits. Learn everything you need to know about gut microbiota today for free here.
